Soundadvice

Get Out!

Brand New Frame, Natalia Zukerman's fourth album, ruminates on change of all kinds, but the New York-based singer-songwriter just keeps getting better. Whether she's carrying a torch for a girl in a blue dress on the smoky "Bill" or weaving a yarn about a fatherless kid amid the pedal steel of "Good Boy," Zukerman reveals the depth and dignity of ordinary people in tough spots.

—M.J. Fine

Sun., May 11, 8 p.m., $11-$13, with Jason Spooner, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Willie turns 75 this year! But look around for hats and tatts — real country music has not died out, it's just returned to its indie roots. Orange County's Mike Ness and heart-of-Texas Jesse Dayton make a wicked badboy pairing. Dayton has a classic country voice, Ness more of the cowpunk edge, both are long on attitude, with honky tonk band to drive the point home.

—Mary Armstrong

Mon., May 12, 7 p.m., $27.50, Troc, 1003 Arch, 215-922-LIVE, thetroc.com.

Plenty of jazz musicians have been told to keep their day jobs, but few have cultivated a day job quite like Michael Pedicin. The Philly-based tenorman holds a doctorate in cognitive and creative arts psychology, making him a one-of-a-kind hyphenate: saxophonist/psychologist. The 60-year-old Pedicin is now indulging in a bit of self-therapy with a new CD, Everything Starts Now (Jazz Hut), a tasteful collection of Brecker-flavored soul.

—Shaun Brady

Sat., May 10, 8 and 10 p.m., $15, Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., 215-568-3131, chrisjazzcafe.com.

If the baroque concert scene these days seems like a lot of obscure music performed on funny old instruments (not that there's anything wrong with that), Dolce Suono's season closer might be a potent antidote. Flutist Mimi Stillman has gathered up a bunch of pals from the Philadelphia Orchestra for a program of chestnuts, with music of Telemann, Handel, and the grand and festive Brandenberg Concerto No. 5 of Bach, with Curtis teacher Alan Morrison at the keyboard. A meal of meat and potatoes now and again can be very satisfying.

—Peter Burwasser

Wed., May 14, 7:30 p.m., free, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 267-252-1803, dolcesuono.com.

Saxophonist Donny McCaslin is such an in-demand sideman that at times it seems he never leaves town; he simply stands still while the band changes around him. He's recently hit Philly as part of the Maria Schneider Orchestra and leading his own band with local stalwart John Swana beside him. He's back once again as leader, an occasion not to be taken for granted as his blend of barbed melodicism, modern rock edges and Latin-inflected rhythms has been ripening into an intriguingly original approach.

—Shaun Brady

Fri., May 9, 5:45 and 7:15, free with museum admission of $14, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street and Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-763-8100, philamuseum.org.